I respectfully take issue with Councilor Clifford Evelyn’s letter to the editor in the April 4 edition of the Spokesman advocating for favorable votes on charter amendments proposed by the city of Redmond. He alleges passage will prevent nepotism in city government.

At issue is a measure that would prohibit any persons running for city office while they have a spouse, domestic partner, parent or child who is a current mayor or councilor.

This is not nepotism, it is discrimination. Nepotism is the practice among those in power or influence to favor relatives or friends, especially giving them jobs.

Some city officials are still steamed that George Endicott served as mayor and his wife, Krisanna, served as councilor at the same time. He did not appoint her. She was elected by the voters because she was/is a qualified individual with previous municipal governing experience in Sherwood.

Another charter amendment would limit councilors to two consecutive 4-year terms. Councilors achieve wisdom and experience the longer they serve. Veteran councilor Jay Patrick, for example, who served on council for 24 years, shared that sense of history with his less experienced council colleagues.

The third amendment would increase the term of a mayor from two to four years. I would agree that continuity of term lengths with councilors is appropriate, but please vote against the other two discriminatory measures.

Carl Vertrees

Redmond

Editor’s Note

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